WBR Group (WBR), the independent provider of SSAS services and tax experts, has made two senior appointments to its leadership team. David Downie joins as Managing Director of SSAS & Actuarial and Peter Collier as Director of Marketing and Distribution. The Group has offices in Leicester, Bolton and Salisbury.
David has over 30 years’ experience in the financial services sector, with most of those years spent working within the pension and SSAS industry. He is a fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, Chairman of the ACA Individual and Penson Savings Committee and was most recently Chief Actuary at Rowanmoor where he has worked for over 29 years.
In his role David will lead the SSAS and Actuarial division of the business, further strengthening the technical knowledge and expertise within the Group. As a fast growing business that is acquisitive for the right books of business, he will also support the future expansion plans of WBR.
Peter Collier has over 25 years’ experience in the pensions industry. He has held a number of senior roles across marketing, business development and strategy functions within the pensions and wealth management industry. Previously, he was Head of Marketing Strategy at Brown Shipley, most recently Peter was Business Development Director at Hurley Partners (latterly Mattioli Woods).
In his role at WBR Group Peter will be developing a clear brand identity and proposition for the newly named WBR Group and lead the strategy to build on the already strong relationships with financial advisers and other professional advisers such as accountants and solicitors.
The news follows the recent completion of Rowanmoor Executive Pensions Limited’s book of 3,500 SSASs. The firm has also taken the opportunity to rebrand the business to WBR Group to reflect the larger organisation.
David Downie, Managing Director of SSAS & Actuarial, WBR Group, said: “I very much look forward to my next challenge as MD of our SSAS and Actuarial propositions at WBR Group. Having seen the developments WBR Group have made in becoming a well-respected and entrusted provider in the pensions industry I can say that I am genuinely excited to be joining the team to help drive them further forward.”
Peter Collier, Director of Marketing and Distribution, WBR Group, said: “I am pleased to be joining WBR Group at such an exciting time for the business. WBR has a unique and highly relevant proposition and whilst we are already well-known for our traditional SSAS offering there is so much more to attract the attention of clients and their advisers. For example, our DB SSAS is particularly noteworthy given the imminent rise in Corporation Tax rates. We will look forward to increasing market awareness of this opportunity.”
Martin Tilley, Chief Operating Officer, WBR Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome David and Peter to the WBR Group. Due to our rapid growth and particularly acquisitions that include the SSAS books of James Hay and Rowanmoor, it is important to have a strong leadership team and to expand this to meet the firm’s changing needs.
“That is why we are pleased to welcome David and Peter to the business. Both David and Peter have experience, expertise and with previous connections to the Board, we have shared values and the same vision for our service offering.”
